Guide for differential cylinderpiston assemblies



March 8, 1949. R. s. HOAR ETAL 2,463,537

GUIDE FOR DIFFERENTIAL CYLINDER-PISTON ASSEMBLIES Filed June 19, 1947 s Sheets-Sheet i I 1; 12 A Z9 '1 "g p *U I4 14 g 11 19 fio arfkarmwn $124;

7 e WM,

Mm Mama INVENTORS,

March 8, 1949. R. s. HOAR ET AL 2,463,537

GUIDE FOR DIFFERENTIAL CYLINDER-PISTON ASSEMBLIES Filed June 19, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 44 Jvlwmd INVENTORE,

ATTORNEY.

March 8, 1949. s, o ET AL 2,463,537

GUIDE FOR DIFFERENTIAL CYLINDER-PISTON ASSEMBLIES Filed June 19, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Maw 17 INVENTORS,

.ATTORNE d 122 A a/m4 Patented Mar. 8, 1949 GUIDE FOR DIFFERENTIAL CYLINDER- PISTON ASSEMBLIES Roger Sherman Hoar, George w. Mork, and John Adams Thierry,

South Milwaukee, Wis., assignors to, Bucyrus-Erie Company, South Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application June '19, 1947, Serial No. 755,606

1 Claims.

Our invention relates to new and useful inrprovements in double-acting differential cylinder-piston assemblies, specifically those ,of the type that utilize fluid by-pass grooves on the surface of the piston and/or cylinder to effect one or more changes in the force-speed ratio of the assembly at different stages of relative travel of the piston and cylinder.

Differential cylinder-piston assemblies of this type are shown in the copending applications of George W. Mork, filed July 22, 1946, Serial No. 685,306, and John Adams Thierry, filed February 21, 1947, Serial No. 730,111, reference to which is hereby made.

In cylinder-piston assemblies of the Thierry type that have a single large-diameter cylinder chamber and piston, and adjacent thereto an auxiliary lesser-diameter cylinder chamber and piston, the auxiliary piston engages its cylinder chamber during only a portion of the stroke. Accordingly, when the assembly is built with the piston rod attached to the large-diameter piston and passing through the end of the large-diameter chamber, the piston assembly (the two pistons and the piston rod) will, during the slow-speed portion of its stroke, have guiding contact with the wall of the cylinder only at one end, namely its large diameter end. This not only makes for lateral unstability at the beginning of the compression stroke, but

may result in misalignment of the auxiliary piston and its chamber with consequent damage to or stalling of the assembly as the auxiliary piston attempts to enter its chamber.

Accordingly it is the principal object of our invention to devise various means for guiding the auxiliary piston'into its chamber without danger of stalling or injury to parts, without introducing leakage between chambers at dilierent fluid pressures, and without increasing the overall length of the assembly.

In addition to our principal object, above stated, we have worked out a number of novel and useful details, which will be readily evident as the description progresses.

Our invention consists in the in the combination and arrangement thereof, which are defined in the appended claims, and of which four embodiments are exemplified in the accompanying drawings, which are hereinafter" particularly described and explained.

Throughout the description the same reference number is applied to the same member or to similar members. I

Figures 1 to 3 inclusive each constitutes a lon- III gitudinal section of the first embodiment of our invention, the moveable piston assembly being shown in three successive positions, from lowest to highest, with respect to a fixed cylinder assembly.

Figures 4 to 6 inclusive each constitutes a longitudinal section of the second embodiment of our invention, the moveable piston assembly being shown in three successive positions, from lowest to highest, with respect to a fixed cylinder assembly.

. Figure 'l is a longitudinal section of the third embodiment of our invention, with piston assembly in lowest position with respect to the cylinder assembly.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal section of the fourth embodiment of our invention, with piston assembly in lowest position with respect to the cylinder assembly, the section being taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 9.

Figures 9 and 10 are cross sections taken along the lines 9-9 and Illill of Figure 8.'

Figure 11 is a cross section taken along the line ll-H of Figure 1.

Referring now to my first embodiment as shown in Figures 1 to 3 and 11, we see that H is a cylinder, having, between its ends, a constriction l2 on the inner wall thereof, dividing cylinder ll novel parts and into upper and lower chambers 13 and it respectively. Upper chamber I3 is shorter and smaller in diameter than lower chamber ll, to fit its piston hereinafter described.

Piston l5 consists of two parts, namely: (1) a large-diameter bottom end piece l1, forming the main low-speed piston, having sliding contact with the inside surface of chamber H which forms the main cylinder, and (2) a small-diameter upper portion l8, forming the auxiliary highspeed piston, having sliding contact with the inside surface of constriction I! which forms the auxiliary cylinder.

Piston rod l9, integral with piston l5, extends downwardly through the bottom of cylinder ll.

Fluid ports 20 and 2i are provided at the top and bottom respectively of cylinder II.

A single set of lengthwise grooves 24 on the inner surface of the upper end of chamber It serves to by-pass pressure 'fluid around main piston I! when and only when auxiliary piston I8 is in contact with and fluid is blocked from bypassing around constriction l2, and the length of the grooves 24 and the gap between auxiliary piston l8 and constriction I! are such that fluid is by-passed around constriction II when and only whenit is blocked from by-passing around they-telescope together (Figure main piston II. Hence for any given position of the piston I5 in cylinder II, fluid is by-passed around only one part of the piston I5 (1. e. either the main piston I! or the auxiliary piston I8) and is blocked from by-passing around the other.

Stops 22a and 22b at the top and bottom respectively of piston I5 prevent the ends of the piston from abutting the ends of cylinder I I so that there will always be pressure fluid at each end of the piston at all times. These stops are preferably three in number disposed at equal intervals around the ends of the auxiliary and main pistons I8 and Il respectively. Stops 22a. on the top of the auxiliary piston also serve to guide the auxiliary piston into its chamber, and for that purpose are located on the perimeter of the piston and are bevelled inwardly at their top outer face. In this way perfect alignment of the auxiliary piston with constriction I2 is assured.

The operation of our cylinder-piston assembly is as follows:

Assume the apparatus to be in the position shown in Figure 1. Pressure fluid is admitted, through port 2|, into the lower end of the interior of cylinder II, just below piston I5. Then the fluid -setsfiup a pressure against the cross-sectional area of main piston I'I. Under the influence of this pressure, piston I5 and its piston rod I9 move upwardly slowly with great force. Meanwhile the fluid above main piston II passes around the upper end of auxiliary piston I8. around constriction I2, and out through port 20.

Turning now to Figure 2, when piston I5 has reached the position shown in this figure, it has uncovered grooves 24 in chamber I4 of cylinder II. Fluidfis now free to by-pass main piston I'I, through grooves 24, and the effective pressure area accordingly is merely the cross-sectional area of the auxiliary piston I8, which is considerably less than the former pressure-area. Thus the piston I5, and its piston rod I9, now move upwardly considerably faster, and with considerably less force than in the first portion of the stroke.-'-Meanwhile fluid in chamber I3 is exhausted through port 20.

This high-speed low-force travel continues until the piston I5 reaches the position shown in Figure 3.

The reverse motion is similar, initial pressure being against auxiliary piston I8 instead of main piston I'I. Fluid under pressure is admitted, through port 20, into the upper chamber I3 of cylinder II, and the exhaust from the lower chamber I4 thereof passes out through port 2|.

Turning now to our second embodiment, shown in Figures 4 to 6 inclusive, we see a two-speed cylinder-piston assembly similar to that of our first embodiment, except that the auxiliary portion I8 of piston I5 is now hollow and open at its upper end to receive a guide sleeve 25. Bottom collar 26 of sleeve 25 makes outwardly sliding contact with the inner surface of auxiliary piston I8 and is held inside the auxiliary piston by top collar 21 of the auxiliary piston I8 which has sliding contact at this point with the outer surface of sleeve 25. Apertures 28 in the wall of sleeve 25 prevent a vacuum from forming between the walls of sleeve 25 and piston I8 as 29 of sleeve 25 makes outwardly sliding contact with the inner surface of chamber I3. Apertures 30 provide for free passage of fluid past this collar and are preferably located therein as shown, although it is evident they could be located elsewhere on the sleeve. The sleeve is hollow and Top collar a. both of its ends are open to fluid in chamber I3. Thus it is seen that none of the sliding-contact surfaces above described between the sleeve 25 and the walls of chamber I3 and auxilary piston I8 need be fluid tight, since at none is there any difference in fluid pressure. The only fluid-tight contact is, as in the first embodiment, between the wall of chamber I4 and main piston I'I during the flrst portion of the stroke, and between constriction I2 and auxiliary piston I8 during the second portion of the stroke.

"At the top of sleeve 25 there are stops 3| to prevent the sleeve from abutting the upper end of cylinder II. Stops 22 at the bottom of piston I5 serve a similar purpose.

The assembly operates in the same manner as the flrst embodiment, except that guide sleeve 25 preserves the alignment of the upper end of piston I5 throughout the stroke. During the initial slow-speed part of the stroke auxiliary piston I8 passes over the sleeve 25 which is generally stationary during such initial stage (Figure 4). Shortly after the intermediate position (Figure 5), the auxiliary piston I8 passes constriction I2, engages top collar 29 of sleeve 25, and during the second part of the stroke carries the sleeve with it to the top of the cylinder (Figure 6).

In the downward stroke the sleeve 25 is generally stationary until top collar 21 on the piston engages bottom collar 26 of the sleeve and thereafter carries the sleeve downward with it.

Turning now to our third embodiment, shown in Figure 7, we see a two-speed cylinder-piston assembly similar to that of the first embodiment, except that the piston guide means is now a rod 32 fixed to the upper end of cylinder I I and passing longitudinally through the center of piston I5" and hollow piston rod I9", with both of which it has at some point sliding contact which is at least some point fluid-tight. Aperture 33 in rod I9" allows air to pass in and out of the hollow rod as it is lowered and raised.

In our fourth embodiment, shown in Figures 8-10, inclusive, the piston guide means consists of longitudinal tracks 34 fixed to the inner wall of the main chamber and making sliding contact with the outer surface of auxiliary piston I8 and fluid-tight sliding contact with slots 35 in main piston II'.

Instead of having by-pass grooves in the wall of chamber I4, slots 36 may, if desired be cut in the tracks 34.

Although four guide tracks are .shown, it is evident that another number, preferably three or more may be used.

The operation of this embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment.

Having now described and illustrated four forms of our invention, we wish it to be understood that our invention is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts herein described and shown.

We claim:

' 1. In a cylinder-piston assembly, the combination of: a main cylinder and piston therefor, having a relatively large effective pressure area; an auxiliary cylinder and piston therefor, having a relatively small effective pressure area; a piston-rod; means operatively connecting the piston-rod to the main and auxiliary pistons, the piston-rod and auxiliary piston being adjacent opposite faces of the main piston; and the auxiliary piston being within its cylinder during a high-speed stage of travel of the piston-rod, and

outside thereof during a low-speedstage; 'ineans to by-pass fluid around the main pistcnduring said high-speed stage whereby the operating speed of the assembly is automatically increased upon entering said high-speed stage; and guide means to guide the auxiliary piston into its, cyl-y inder upon entering said high-speed stage. V 2. A cylinder-piston asse bly according to claim 1, further characterized by the fact that the guide means consists of at least one guide rod within and anchored to one of the cylinders, and that the auxiliary piston has sliding contact with said guide rod as it enters said-high-speed stage.

3. A cylinder-piston assembly according to claim 2, further characterized by the fact that the guide rod is centrally disposed within the cylinder to which it is anchored and that the auxiliary piston has fluid-tight inwardly sliding contact with said guide rod.

4. A cylinder-piston assembly according to claim 3, further characterized by the fact that the pistonrod is hollow, that the guide rod extends into said piston-rod, which has fluid-tight r inwardly sliding contact with the outer surface of said guide rod.

5. A cylinder-piston assembly according 'to claim 1, further characterized by the fact-that the guide means consists of a plurality of guide vanes fixed to the interiorwall of the main cylinder'and havingsliding contact withthe auxiliary piston as it enters said high-speed'stage.

6. A cylinder-piston assembly according to claim 5, further characterized by the fact that the auxiliary piston has fluid-tight outwardly slidingcontact with the interior surface of its cylinder during said high-speed stage, and that the main piston has fluid-tight outwardly sliding contact with the interior surface of its cylinder and with the surface of the'guide vanes duringsaid low speed stage.

7. A cylinder-piston assembly according to claim 6, further characterized by'the. fact that the fluid by-passmeans consists of at least one longitudinal slot in at least one of the-guide vanes.

9. A cylinder-piston assembly according to claim 8, further characterized by'the fact that the guide sleeve has at one end outwardly sliding contact with a cylindrical surface about the axis of the auxiliary cylinder and has atthe other end outwardly sliding contact with the interior surface of the auxiliary pistonff 10. A cylinder-piston assembl according to claim 9, further characterizedb e iact that the auxiliary piston has. adiacentiits head inwardly' sliding contact with the exterior surface of the guide sleeve. 1

11. Arcylinder-plston assemblyfaccording to claim 10, further characterized byhavihg'means to by-pass fluid past the points of 'sliding'contact between the guide sleeve and theauxiliary piston and-between the guide sleeve and's'ai'd cylindrical surface. 7. I

12. A cylinder-piston assembly according to claim 1, further characterized by the fact that the auxiliary piston'is hollow. that the guide means consists of a guide sleeve slidably constrained adjacent one end tdmove' within the auxiliary cylinder along the of-the auxiliary cylinder. and that the auxiliary pistonis adjacent its head slidably constrained'byfthe guide sleeve to move along the axisof said guide" sleeve. 133A cylinder-piston. assembly accordin to claim 12, further characterized by. the fact that the guide sleeve has at one end outwardly sliding contact with a cylindrical surface about the axis of the auxiliary cylinder. and that the auxiliary piston has adjacent its head inwardly sliding contact with the exterior surface of the guide sleeve. I

14. A cylinder-piston assembly according to claim 13, further characterized by having means t0 bit-D888 fluid past the points of Sliding contact between the guide sleeve and'the auxiliary piston and between the guide sleeve and said cylindrical surface.

1 .15. Acylinder-piston assembly according to claim 1; further characterized by the fact that the which slot is uncove'rable by-relative motion-of the main piston and the main cylinder.

8. A cylinder-piston assembly according to claim 1, further characterizedby the fact that the auxiliary pistonis hollow and that the guide means consists of a guide sleeve that is slidably constrained adjacent one end to move within the auxiliary cylinder and is slidably constrained adiacentthe other end to move within the auxiliary along the axis of theauxfliarr P st n.

cylinder alongthe axis of the auxiliary guide means consists of a guide sleeve-that is slidably constrained adiacentfcne end to move alongthe axis of thejauxiiiary cylinder and that the auxiliary piston is constrained by the sleeve to move'a'long said as it enters said highspeed stage. v

ROGER snnnum norm.

cannon w. MORK.

JOHN mans. rrnmnar. 

